Maharashtra: Here's why dairy farmers' Rs. 225cr subsidy is pending
The delay in submission of bank account details of dairy farmers in Maharashtra has led to subsidy worth Rs. 225cr getting stuck at the government level, an official has said. Maharashtra government had taken a decision some months back to provide a subsidy of Rs. 5 per liter of milk to cooperative and private producers to convert it into milk powder. Here's more.
Cooperatives have been asked to prove milk is of cow
The cooperative societies have already submitted their applications to seek subsidy, but they've been asked to prove that the milk purchased by them is of cow and supplied by dairy farmers only. To provide the subsidy in a transparent manner, the authorities have also asked for bank account details of dairy farmers so that amount can be transferred directly to them, the official said.
Subsidy amount would be released once bank accounts are verified
Once the bank accounts are verified by the authorities, the subsidy amount would be released, the official said. However, an official from Kolhapur district cooperative milk society aka Gokul said it's tough to collect bank-details of milk producers, who are mostly small and marginal farmers.
Till now accumulated dues for milk cooperatives: Rs. 225cr
The subsidy rate was applicable from August 1. An official said that there is a daily excess milk production of about 10L liters. This goes for milk powder production and entails a daily subsidy of Rs. 50L. The average monthly dues of milk cooperatives for powder production are Rs. 150cr, and so far dues worth Rs. 225cr have accumulated, he added.
